Kalamata Travel Essentials
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"Olive Garden Of Peloponnese"
Kalamata Tourism
Kalamata, the capital of Messinia and the second biggest city in Peloponnese, is a significant coastal city. Kalamata is popular for its black Kalamata olive groves,traditional public markets, unique dance festivals, old town and delicious figs. Land of ancient ruins, castles, and beautiful sunsets by serene golden sand beaches, Kalamata is a port city, as well.
Home to several churches including the church of Agioi Apostoloi and Ypapanti church, Kalamata also features museums, like the Archaeological Museum of Messenia and the Museum of Military History, some water parks and Kalamata castle. Beautiful beaches along the Messinia coastline that fall in other regions, like Foneas beach in Western Mani, can be reached from Kalamata. Apart from olive oil tasting and wine tasting tours, activities like hiking and mountain biking are popular as the city sits conveniently at the foot of Mount Taygetos. Other activities that are popular in the city include guided snorkelling tours and scuba diving courses that can be booked at the beach or even the commercial centre of Kalamata.
Must Know Before You Travel to Kalamata
- Central location of Kalamata enables it to be an ideal base for people who want to explore the Peloponnese region of Greece, with everything accessible by road.
- A good place to start would be the historic town of Kalamata with cobblestone pathways and postcard-worthy houses. The old town is located under the city fort(Kastro) and boasts plenty of historic buildings and churches belonging to Byzantine and Ottoman times.
- Just below the old town is the commercial centre of Kalamata which is home to some of amazing shops, restaurants and cafes.
- Just beneath this commercial hub lies the Kalamata coast with the port lined with clubs.
- The best way to explore Kalamata is by an inexpensive and convenient bus network. To explore more, one can also try renting a car.
- Shops open from around 9:30 AM to 2:30 PM and from 6:00 PM to 9:00 on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. On other days except Sundays, shops open from 9:30 AM to 2:30 PM.
- Most restaurants and cafes open latest by 11:30 AM to close by 1:00 AM.
- Keeping cash is wise as small shops, cafes, and restaurants usually do not accept credit cards.
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History of Kalamata
After Frank's occupation, Kalamata was ruled by Byzantines after 1410 until it came under the Ottoman rule in 1459. Kalamata continued to be under Ottoman rule until 1685 when it fell under the Venetians. The Venetians brought some big changes to the city, and the town metamorphosed into an important trade centre after becoming an economic and commercial region. The Turks claimed back the commercial city of Kalamata in 1715, which was destroyed during Ibrahim Pasha's invasions in 1825. After Ibrahim Pasha's demise, Kalamata rebuilt itself with its port's help and became one of the most significant trade centres in the Mediterranean sea. The city was destroyed during some earthquake attacks in 1986, after which Kalamata was rebuilt to be a modern city with all modern facilities.
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